Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-01-24
..Yerr well.o cried Nan snatehinn

WY nCAis Nelt. SUAICDlnO
up the manuscript with defiant toss
of her head. I've done you many
favors, and you can do this if you want
to. It's not likely that I'd ask the
manager. but the books got to be bound
if it costs me a weeks pay"
She tlounced out of the room, the
angry crimson dyeing her face, and
went straight to the business office
downstairs.
"What'll it cost to nave this bound in
one OF those fancy gift-book covers?'
she asked of Mr.. johnson. the busi-
ness manager of the house, net noticing
that MIR. Cyril Cawthorne, the Junior
member of the great publishing house
of Cawthorne and Son, and the head OF
the literary department, was standing
close beside the business manager
high desk.
MIR. Johnson picked up the package
of manuscript, on the first page of
which was a picture done in water
colors, crude, like all the rest, but drawn
and colored by the same free hand that
gave to all her pictures life and char
acter.
He glanced from it to the face of the
girl.
You're one OF our young women up
stairs. are you not?" he asked
"Yes. sir"
ployes anything for. little jobs like
this;" and turning to young Mr.. Caw-
thorne, he handed him Nell's precious
manuscript. I'VE won't charge one OF
our hands anything for binding this. 4"
Mr.. Cawthorne took the manuscript,
and, without answering, began turn
ing the leaves.
The manager walked away, leaving
Nell still standing in front of the desk.
Mr.. Cawthornr seemed interested in
reading what the girl had written
down, and in examining her crude
pictures. for the minutes passed away.
and he neither looked at her nor spoke.
When the hands on the clock above
the desk indicated five minutes of one.
Nell ventured to break the silence.
IF you please, SIR she began. IL"
where did you get these stories?n
demanded MIR. Cawthorne with sudden
earnestness. tapping the manuscript
with his long foreiinger. and raising his
specialized eyes to Nell's face.
They are mine" she answered. 81
wrote them out"
''Do- you mean to say that You COM
posed them, and that these drawings are
yours?"
Yes. sir. / know they urc not very
good, but my little lame sister thinks
they are grand. and it is to please her
that put them in that shape, and want
them bound. so that she can read them
over while am at work"
'.Ahem! Miss"
''Gwinett"
''Ycs; Miss Gwinctt, want to talk to
you. Walk into my Office. please"
And before Nell could realize what it
all meant, she found herself seated in
the publishers private office. telling
him the story of her life. and how the
fairy-stories came to be written. and all
her hopes and plans and ambitions.
When at length she finished. the pub
Usher spoke withian earnestness that
nearly took Nell's breath away.
"These Stories" he said. "are capital
at least, if can Judge from one that
| have just read and your sister is \
most excellent critic. Our house has
been wanting to publish book like
this for some time. and if you'll allow
me, I'll make you IN offer for the manu-
script-including the sketches"
'Sir?" said Nellie.
And she began to feel faint and
giddy. and the room swan around her.
'Ill give you one hundred pounds
down. and. if tho book proves the sue
cess that / venture to say it will, the
usual royalty after all expenses have
been paid. | make this offer without
reading the manuscript. Amusc your
self. and I'll see if my Judgment is cor
rect by further perusal.
He turned to the manuscript, and
Nell, left to herself. could only sit and
stare straight ahead At the opposite
wall, on which danced thousand
pictures. moro real and life-like than
they had ever been before to her.
She did not go back to work that
afternoon. nor the next day. nor ever
again.
Young Mr.. Cawthorne came to see
her in the little shabby room, which
never before had looked so shabby to
her. and talked to her of future so
glittering and grand that several times
she pinched herself, hardly daring to
believe that it was not dream; but
when be handed her the crisp bank
notes for the hundred pounds. and went
away. promising to call again. she
knew it must be real. and. with ESTES
arms around her neck, cried out her
JOY.
She has told. in her own inimita Bile
way, this story OF her first triumph much
better than / have done il, and the
thousands of little children all over
Christendom who have read with Pleas
ure the story OF "Essie in Fxirylnnd :"